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Blue
The manga Blue by Kiriko Nananan is being reprinted in English by Fanfare / Ponent Mon, with no further details on release timing or format beyond its inclusion in a reprint slate.
Synthesized from 12
Yomimono stories · updated
Jun 1
Fanfare / Ponent Mon announced in May 2026 that it will reprint Kiriko Nananan's manga Blue as part of a slate of reissues from three acclaimed manga creators. The announcement groups Blue with Jiro Taniguchi's The Summit of the Gods and Hideo Azuma's Disappearance Diary. The Summit of the Gods reprint is scheduled for July 2026 to coincide with an Everest ascent anniversary, while the other reprints, including Blue, are described as arriving later in the year.
No specific release date, format, or pricing has been shared for Blue beyond its inclusion in the reprint lineup. The announcement does not indicate whether the reprint will be a single volume or a collected edition, nor does it mention any new material or changes from the original English release. The reprint program is the only recent coverage of Blue in Yomimono stories, and no other news about the manga-such as adaptations, sales, or creator activity-has been reported.
The reprint positions Blue as part of a broader effort to bring out-of-print English editions of notable manga back into circulation. Beyond this announcement, the manga has no active serialization, adaptation, or other developments covered in Yomimono stories.
Key facts
- Reprint announced
- Fanfare / Ponent Mon will reprint Kiriko Nananan's Blue as part of a reprint slate. ↗
- Reprint timing
- The reprint is scheduled for later in 2026, after July. ↗
Timeline
- May 31, 2026 Fanfare / Ponent Mon to Reprint Manga by Jiro Taniguchi, Hideo Azuma, Kiriko Nananan
- May 31, 2026 Kill Blue Episode 1 Review: Age-Regression Premise Carries Uneasy Baggage
- May 25, 2026 Rokudenashi Blues Returns for Second McDonald's Collaboration
- May 24, 2026 Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3 Reveals Key Visual and Opening Song Artist
- May 20, 2026 Rokudenashi BLUES Returns for Second McDonald's Collaboration
- May 20, 2026 Japan Football Association Launches Blue Lock-Inspired Talent Camp in the U.S.
- May 20, 2026 Netflix Adds Milky☆Subway Film and Seven Other Titles in May-June
- May 19, 2026 Live-Action Blue Lock Film Adds Sōshō Tomimoto and Keisuke Kida
- May 17, 2026 Grand Blue Season 3 Heads to Palau for Summer 2026
- May 16, 2026 It's Anime Sets Weekly Kill Blue Sub and Dub Schedule on Samsung TV Plus
- May 16, 2026 Katsuhiro Ōtomo Opens Feature Animation Studio Oval Gear
- May 16, 2026 May 2026 Print Lineup Adds Lost in the Cloud and Voices in the Sea Foam
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- manga · 2026 · English · 2026-05-31
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/blue.
CC BY 4.0.
Claim activity
When a claim about Blue was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed Ponent Mon produces Blue Jun 13 · source
- Confirmed Fanfare produces Blue Jun 12 · source
- Confirmed manga 2026 English Jun 1 · source
All coverage
2d ago
Banpresto is releasing Blue Archive sitting figures of the Gehenna Discipline Committee's Hina and Chinatsu. Hina appears sequentially from September 8, 2026, and Chinatsu from September 10, 2026. Each crane game prize measures about 11 cm and comes in a chibi-style flat seated pose. Ako and Iori are scheduled for the following month.
3d ago
Ueni Trading will open orders on August 31 for the third 'Blue Archive Original Watch' installment, a mechanical watch inspired by Hikari and Nozomi of Highlander Railway Academy. It works as both a wristwatch and a pocket watch, priced at 29,800 yen with shipping scheduled for May 2027.
3d ago
The full details of the Sendai special project "The Homecoming of BLUE GIANT" were revealed on August 23, 2026. The event runs from September 11, 2026, featuring a special exhibition at Sendai Station Front EBeanS, limited goods, corporate collaborations, and a stamp rally across six locations. A campaign offering original stickers to EBeanS customers was also announced.
4d ago
Koei Tecmo Games released 'BLUE REFLECTION Quartet: 少女たちのキセキ' (BlueRef Q), packaging four games. The second, 'BLUE REFLECTION RAY/澪', originally a TV anime, is adapted into a game covering the final stretch. Players control Hiyori while Ruka follows, and the pair constantly holds hands in 3D. The game requires prior anime knowledge and includes a database and flashback scenes.
4d ago
The Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary POP UP STORE opened August 28 at Akiba CO Gallery in Akihabara, Tokyo, running through September 13. The venue displayed the first 1/7 scale RAISE Memorial Lobby Ver. prototype and a figma Tendo Aris prototype. New announcements covered figma figures of Asuma Toki (Combat), Arona, and Plana, a Hasumi (Swimsuit) scale figure, and a Tendo Kei Nendoroid.
4d ago
Good Smile Company is releasing a figma of Noa Shioi, secretary of the student council Seminar and a Millennium Science School member from Blue Archive. The figure includes face parts for composed, wink, and glaring expressions, plus optional parts like a handgun called Secretary's Decision, notebooks, pen, and an action skirt. It is scheduled for release in August 2027 at 11,800 yen. A smile face part is available as a bonus from the official shop.
4d ago
BANDAI SPIRITS updated the Ichiban Kuji Club page for Ichiban Kuji Blue Archive vol.4, revealing the figure prizes. The 1/7 scale Gracemaster figures of Al, Kayoko, Ako, and Saori in dresses are set as the A through D Prizes, with Hina (Dress) as the Last One Prize and Double Chance Campaign prize. Draws cost 850 yen each, with store sales starting December 26, 2026.
5d ago
At a gamescom dev session, Raw Fury senior brand manager Pontus Rundqvist outlined the four core elements of a Steam store page: name and logo, key art, genre and tags, and price. With 21,338 games released on Steam in 2025, a store page has only seconds to capture a player's attention, so small adjustments early in the funnel can have large downstream effects.
5d ago
The Chiikawa anime film, Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu, stayed at #1 in its fifth weekend in Japan, earning 1,241,646,800 yen from August 21-23. The Crayon Shin-chan film rose from #6 to #5 in its fourth weekend, earning 169,928,400 yen. Both films continue strong box office runs.
5d ago
Wing is releasing a 1/7 scale figure of Neru from the game Blue Archive, based on her uniformed appearance in the game's Memorial Lobby. The figure depicts Neru, the leader of C&C at Millennium Science School, wearing a Millennium uniform she is unaccustomed to, while enjoying an EXPO with a big smile and a large cream-filled crepe. The figure includes a swappable part for an open-eyed smiling face, allowing collectors to display her with either expression. It stands about 220mm tall and comes with a dedicated base. The prototype is by CKB, with coloring by Akimoto Hajime, and illustration and design by namoga. Pre-orders are open on Amazon.co.jp at 25,300 yen including tax, with a scheduled release date of March 31, 2027. Wing's official X account also announced that a shy face part will be included for orders placed through the WING HOBBY STORE.
5d ago
Yoshino Aoyama, known for Bocchi the Rock!, voices Yumeka Kido in Blue Box Season 2. She auditioned for Karen Moriya in Season 1 but lost the part. Aoyama channels her frustration from that rejection into Yumeka's resentment. She also reveals she roots for Hina in the love triangle.
5d ago
Shueisha's Grand Jump announced on August 19 that the launch of Rokudenashi Blues Gaiden: Onikazura is delayed from summer to winter and will now feature art by Yuki Yoshimoto. Boichi was originally announced as the artist. The manga is set in the early 1990s and centers on Onizuka and Kasai, two of the story's "four heavenly kings."
5d ago
Ueni Trading will start taking orders on August 31 for a mechanical watch inspired by Hikari and Nozomi from the smartphone game Blue Archive -Blue Archive-. The product is the third entry in the Blue Archive Original Watch series and is designed to evoke a gift from the two Highlander Railway Academy characters. It can be used as a wristwatch or, by switching to an included attachment, as a pocket watch reminiscent of a railway clock. The watch features a Japanese-made automatic movement, the MIYOTA 82S5, with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The case is about 38 mm, made of stainless steel, and offers 10 ATM water resistance. The dial includes an open heart design at the 8 o'clock position, a small second hand with a halo motif, and an applied logo incorporating the Highlander Railway Academy school crest. The case back also carries the school crest and has a see-through back. As a purchase bonus, buyers receive a microfiber cloth with newly drawn art by illustrator Dan Tateda and a PVC warranty card styled like a railway ticket. The watch is priced at 29,800 yen including tax. Orders will be accepted until October 5 at 15:00, with delivery scheduled after May 2027. Shipping is limited to Japan.
5d ago
The official website for the anime adaptation of Koji Miura's Blue Box manga unveiled the main promotional video and main visual for the second season on Wednesday, August 26. The trailer announces and previews the season's opening theme song "Anata no Hana no Iro" by singer-songwriter aiko and the ending theme song "blue in" by the duo elsewhere kikou. The season is set to premiere on TBS and 27 other channels on October 4, with streaming on Netflix in October. Yoshino Aoyama joins the cast as Yumeka Kido, a new character who appears before Taiki and Chinatsu. Daisuke Sako (Lupin Zero) takes over as director from Yuichiro Yano, and Electric Circus replaces Telecom Animation Film as the animation studio. Anri Ishii and Yumika Okazaki take over as art director and editor, respectively. The rest of the main staff, including series composer Yuko Kakihara and character designer Miho Tanino, retain their roles. The manga, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since April 2021, concluded on July 13, with the 28th and final volume shipping on December 4.
Aug 21
Netflix used its Anime NYC 2026 presentation to announce release dates and new trailers for several upcoming anime and adult animated series. The biggest reveal was Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, which will premiere on Netflix on October 20. The sequel is a standalone 10-episode story set in Night City, following a new cast of characters on a path of redemption and revenge. Studio Trigger returns to animate, with Kai Ikarashi directing in his debut role. The series features Japanese and English voice casts, including Momoka Terasawa and Valeria Rodriguez as Roman Carax, and Akari Kito and Kimoy Lee as Talia Yang. Netflix also announced that Blue Eye Samurai season 2 will arrive in January 2027, with a third and final season planned for 2028. The One Piece, Wit Studio's CG adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga, received new key art and a February 2027 premiere date, adapting the first 50 chapters across seven episodes. Bass X Machina, an adult animated steampunk Western created by LeSean Thomas and starring Brian Tyree Henry, will premiere November 3. SAKAMOTO DAYS season 2 got a character trailer and a January 2027 return.
Aug 20
The Chiikawa anime film stayed at #1 in Japan for a fourth weekend, selling 602,000 tickets and earning 895 million yen. The fifth live-action Kingdom film rose from #7 to #5 in its fifth weekend, earning 353 million yen. Both films continue strong theatrical runs.
Aug 20
NEXON Games IO division head Kim Yong-ha delivered the opening keynote at BIC2026 in Busan, tracing how subculture games grew from niche to a market larger than any single major game. He detailed Blue Archive's IP design around lifestyle, repeated actions, symbols, and relationships, then asked what human aesthetic judgment remains in an AI era.
Aug 19
Unitcom released three LEVEL∞ gaming PCs on August 19 as recommended configurations for Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok. The AMD Ryzen and Radeon builds start at 229,700 yen, support BTO customization, and are verified through actual gameplay.
Aug 18
Anime Anime rounds up five fall 2026 sequel series, including The Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Blue Box Season 2, and Black Clover 2nd Season, with recaps of prior seasons to help viewers catch up before new episodes air in October. The article highlights key plot points and new cast details for each show.
Aug 17
NHK General will rebroadcast 'NHK Video File: Want to Meet That Person Encore Satoshi Kon' on August 22 at 5:40 AM. The program compiles interviews with the late director Satoshi Kon and airs ahead of the August 24 anniversary of his death. It originally broadcast on August 23, 2025.
Aug 17
Game Spark's early August roundup features a hands-on preview of STAR WARS Zero Company, an SRPG called the Star Wars version of XCOM, and Hyperdimension Neptunia∞, the first numbered entry in 11 years. The list also covers an RPG with hidden fetishism and indie titles from Tokyo Game Dungeon 13.
Aug 17
SuperGroupies is selling Blue Archive collaboration goods modeled on five Arius Branch School students: Saori, Atsuko, Hiyori, Misaki, and Subaru. The lineup totals 10 items, with body bags at 18,700 yen and long wallets at 15,400 yen each. Reservations run from August 17 at 16:00 to September 14 at 12:00, with delivery scheduled for early January 2027.
Aug 15
Sega's XStellar figure line is adding two Blue Archive prize figures, Mika and Seia, both in swimsuits. The figures use clear materials and gradient painting for a translucent finish, include sandy beach bases, and release sequentially from August 21, 2026.
Aug 14
Netmarble opened the official YouTube channel for Pearl in Blue on August 14 and released a new teaser PV. The video shows the game's 3D character models in motion for the first time, including scenes of the girls manifesting their weapons called Pearl Light. The PV also confirmed that the game will be exhibited at Tokyo Game Show 2026, though specific details about the booth or playable demo have not been announced yet. Pearl in Blue is a free-to-play mobile RPG for iOS and Android, developed by Netmarble N2. The game is set on an island called Kenan Island, where players act as managers for girls called "Garappo" who have not yet awakened their pearls. The concept is described as a "monthly romantic comedy," with new heroines and stories added each month. The teaser PV highlights the awakening of the character Ichiha, whose weapon emerges from the sole of her foot after she removes her sock. The game's world revolves around pearls that embody human desires and the knights who wield them.
Aug 14
A Blue Lock pop up shop will run from Friday, September 4, 2026, to Sunday, September 13, 2026, at TOWER RECORDS Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alpa Store and Tower Records Online. The event, named TV Anime 'Blue Lock' Pop Up Shop in TOWER RECORDS, centers on two newly drawn illustrations: a Conductor Ver. with characters in tails and a Suit Model Ver. with a mature look. Featured characters include Yoichi Isagi, Rin Itoshi, Sae Itoshi, and Seishiro Nagi. The shop will sell a range of goods, including trading glitter can badges, illustration cards, acrylic cards, bromide photos, die-cut stickers, A5 illustration cards, hologram can badges, hard cases, clear files, acrylic keychains, and acrylic stands in various sizes. Purchase bonuses include a random postcard for every 2,000 yen spent at the venue, and Tower Records Online offers a glitter can badge for each box of eligible trading badges purchased. Online sales start at 10:00, and the shop is also planned for AMNIBUS and Animate at a later date.
Aug 14
Balor Games released Wild Blue Skies on August 14, 2026. The anime-style 3D rail shooter was developed by Chuhai Labs, a studio founded by Giles Goddard, who programmed the original Star Fox and Super Mario 64. The game reimagines classic 1990s rail shooters for modern audiences, with players controlling protagonist Bowie Stray and leading the Blue Bombers against the Grimclaw force. Each companion character has a distinct personality and voice, with lively exchanges during encounters and battles. The game is available on PC (Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The Xbox Series X|S version costs 1,900 yen, and the PS5 version costs 1,870 yen, both including tax. A demo is available on Steam. The release year coincides with the announcement of a new Star Fox remake, which Goddard's studio acknowledged when its wishlist surpassed 100,000, calling it a great year for rail shooters.
Aug 14
The live-action Blue Lock film opened at #8 in the Japanese box office. Meanwhile, the Chiikawa anime film returned to #1 in its third weekend, selling 1.147 million tickets and earning 1,698,950,000 yen from Friday to Sunday. The Crayon Shin-chan film dropped from #3 to #6 in its second weekend.
Aug 13
NEXON Korea announced on August 13 that it permanently suspended 122,046 accounts in the global version of Blue Archive. The stated reason is that these players were found to be abusing in-game mechanics to gain an unfair advantage over others. The restriction period is permanent. NEXON said unauthorized programs can harm the game environment and other players and will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and it urged players to report suspicious behavior. The specific methods used and how the scale reached this level were not disclosed. This is not the first such action: the global version saw 23,268 accounts banned in May 2025 and 17,712 accounts in March 2026, both for unfair play. The current ban applies to the global and Korean versions operated by NEXON Korea. The Japanese version of Blue Archive is run by Yostar and is a separate service. Blue Archive is a school-themed RPG developed by Nexon Games, set in the academy city of Kivotos, where the player acts as Sensei guiding students. The global version is available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam.
Aug 12
A Puella Magi Madoka Magica x ANGEL BLUE pop-up shop runs August 26 to September 6, 2026, at three Tower Records locations and online. The event debuts newly drawn full-body and chibi illustrations of Madoka, Homura, Mami, Sayaka, and Kyoko wearing ANGEL BLUE clothing. Fifteen items go on advance sale, including trading can badges, bromides, acrylic cards, stands, and tapestries.
Aug 11
The Weekly Shonen Magazine 36-37 combined issue will feature the live-action Blue Lock cast on both front and back covers, timed to the film's August 7 release. The movie's official YouTube channel also posted a special talk between Fumiya Takahashi and Ura Kazuki, who play and voice Yoichi Isagi respectively.
Aug 11
The Blue Lock x Kimono Rental VASARA collaboration will sell women's yukata sets featuring newly drawn illustrations at the VASARA online store from noon on August 1, 2026. The lineup includes six characters: Yoichi Isagi, Rin Itoshi, Seishiro Nagi, Meguru Bachira, Hyoma Chigiri, and Yo Hiori. Each set includes a yukata, obi, obidome, and hair ornament, limited to 50 sets per character.
Aug 11
BLUE REFLECTION Quartet: Girls' Miracle, a collection of magical girl RPGs and anime from Gust, launched on July 30, 2026, for PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch. Overseas reviews on Metacritic show high scores, with the PS5 and Switch 2 versions at 77 and the PC version at 71. Critics praise the story and entry point value, while some note uneven handling of included works.
Aug 10
ZOZO will sell the second Blue Archive collaboration collection with ZOZOTOWN starting August 13. The lineup features Gehenna Academy's disciplinary committee members Hina, Ako, Iori, and Chinatsu in original black military-themed designs. Eight items include apparel and goods, with illustrations by nijihashisora.
Aug 10
Max Factory is releasing a 1/7 scale figure of Kirara from the game Blue Archive. The figure is now available for pre-order on Amazon.co.jp. Kirara is a member of the Kirakira Club at Gehenna Academy. The figure captures her confident smile and trendy outfit, including a deliberately disheveled shirt collar and a tight miniskirt. It stands about 255mm tall and comes with a dedicated base. The prototype was sculpted by Tachibana of Max Factory, with coloring by Ekoshi, design by Hino Hinako, and illustration by Mx2J. The figure is priced at 28,800 yen including tax and is scheduled for release on September 30, 2027. The product page notes that the photos may differ slightly from the actual product.
Aug 10
The staff for the live-action film based on Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura's Blue Lock soccer manga confirmed three more cast members on Monday, August 10. FANTASTICS member Yusei Yagi will play Rin Itoshi, Keisuke Watanabe will play Jyubei Aryu, and Omi Natsuki will play Aoshi Tokimitsu. Character visuals showing the actors in costume were released alongside the announcement. The film opened in Japan on August 7 and recorded 188,212 admissions and 277,648,800 yen (about $1.7 million USD) at the box office from August 7 to 9. Starting on August 21, the film will screen in MX4D, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema formats. Cheering screenings, where audiences are allowed to shout and interact with the film, will be held at five theaters in Hokkaido, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The film is directed by Yusuke Taki, with a screenplay by Tetsuo Kamata. CREDEUS is producing, and TOHO is distributing. The cast includes Fumiya Takahashi as Yoichi Isagi, Kaito Sakurai as Meguru Bachira, and Masataka Kubota as Jinpachi Ego, among others.
Aug 9
Game Spark and Inside have published their weekly roundup of new game releases for the week of August 10 through August 16, covering both Japan and North America. The featured titles include The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, scheduled for August 12 on Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan and North America, and Arknights, set for August 13 on Windows PC. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launches August 14 on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Other highlighted releases include BLAZBLUE ENTROPY EFFECT X - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on August 13, Wild Blue Skies on August 14, and Panzer Knights: Commander's Edition on August 13. The lists span multiple platforms, including Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Notable North American releases include No More Room in Hell 2 on August 11 and EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 on August 13. The roundup notes that release dates are subject to change at the manufacturer's discretion.
Aug 9
Game Spark's July 25 Steam global sales ranking shows Granblue Fantasy: Relink climbing back into the top 10 after its Endless Ragnarok expansion, while Assassin's Creed Black Flag RE: Sync holds second place in its second week. The list also highlights rising titles like Dinoblade and Tears of Metal.
Aug 8
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is re-releasing its 1/7 scale figure of Blue Archive's Hina in a swimsuit. The painted PVC figure stands about 235mm tall, includes a dedicated base, and is available for pre-order on Amazon Japan at 21,900 yen. It is scheduled to ship on March 31, 2027.
Aug 8
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is producing a 1/7 scale figure of Rio, the Seminar student council president from Blue Archive. The figure stands about 256mm tall and includes a dedicated base. Reservations are open on Amazon.co.jp at 22,200 yen, with release scheduled for May 31, 2027.
Aug 8
K, a member of the nine-member group &TEAM, plays Nagi Seishiro in the live-action Blue Lock film, his first solo film role. He discussed the character's appeal, his soccer training, and the similarities he found between the Blue Lock project and the audition program that launched his career.
Aug 7
K of &TEAM discusses his screen debut as Nagi Seishiro in the live-action Blue Lock film, out August 7. He credits lead actor Takahashi Fumiya for guidance, describes the challenge of portraying Nagi's awakening, and reflects on how acting deepened his empathy and influenced his work with &TEAM.
Aug 7
Blue Anemoia and publisher Jungle Game Lab will release Blue Sign, a maritime insurance document review game, free on Steam on August 14. Players act as underwriters in the fictional Age of Sail port of Lisebra, checking ship details, voyage plans, and cargo documents to decide whether to accept or reject contracts. The game supports Japanese and other languages.
Aug 6
Third Wave Corporation, under its GALLERIA brand, began selling recommended PCs for GRANBLUE FANTASY: Relink - Endless Ragnarok on July 31, 2026. The lineup includes three desktop models with AMD Ryzen CPUs and Radeon graphics cards, available at Dospara stores and online.
Aug 6
Astrolabe Games and 91Act released gameplay footage for Platinum, a new playable character in the roguelite action game BlazBlue Entropy Effect X. Platinum joins on August 13 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch, including the Switch 2 Edition. Her fighting style relies on random Magical Weapons and the Prisma Signal skill.
Aug 6
At CEDEC 2026, Cygames engineers Satoshi Hirate and Tatsu Miki explained how they built the battle system for Granblue Fantasy: Relink and its Endless Ragnarok expansion. The team aimed for battles where every player can fight stylishly, managing 84 character-style variations through rapid iteration and a two-tier AI system.
Aug 6
Good Smile Company announced the Nendoroid Basic Sorasaki Hina (Dress) figure from Blue Archive, releasing in December. Pre-orders are open at 4,400 yen. The Basic series omits interchangeable parts for a lower price and faster release, while retaining standard Nendoroid articulation. The official shop adds a music sheet and hand part bonus.
Aug 6
Yostar announced the Blue Archive VR event "Kaettekita! Blue Archive VR! +" will run from October 30 to November 3 at TOC Ariake in Tokyo. Tickets cost 5,500 yen, with a lottery application window open from July 26 at 11 p.m. through August 2. Details are on the special site opening July 26 at 11 p.m.
Aug 6
Blue Vintage, the duo described as "music where you can see the sea," will perform on August 23 at BON BON BON 2026, a summer festival-style Bon event held at Kiyomita Park in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The announcement marks the fifth artist reveal for the two-day festival, which runs August 22 and 23 from 16:00 to 21:00 each day. The event is organized by nonii Co., Ltd., based in Shizuoka City, with Yusuke Katayose as president. The festival's concept is "Relight the summer festival," blending Bon Odori dancing, DJs, festival stalls, food trucks, and a lantern night. Approximately 40 stalls are planned, with a target attendance of 13,000 over two days. Blue Vintage consists of vocalist J.Speaks, born in the Philippines and raised in Saipan, and guitarist Taiga. Their 2021 single "Apple Pie," a collaboration with Airi Suzuki, reached No. 1 on the Spotify Viral Chart and was selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV's "Yume Mitai na Koi Shitai Onnatachi." The duo has also participated in Coca-Cola Japan's "Colorful" project for the Tokyo Olympics. Early bird tickets cost 1,500 yen and are available until August 9, limited to the first 2,000 buyers.
Aug 5
The global Steam version of Blue Archive, the action anime RPG developed by NEXON Games, has fallen to an 'overwhelmingly negative' review rating. As of July 28, the Steam store page showed that only 10% of the 3,883 reviews posted in the last 30 days were positive. Most recent reviews cite the student recruitment system overhaul announced during the Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary Live Broadcast on July 26. The change abolishes the old 'Recruitment Points' system, which let players exchange for a target character after 200 pulls, and replaces it with 'Recruitment Charge' and 'Recruitment Count Bonuses.' Under the new system, reaching 100 pulls gives a 50% chance to obtain the pickup character, and 200 pulls guarantees it. However, the count resets if the pickup character is obtained in any pickup recruitment, unlike the old points system which did not reset when the gacha changed. Critics on social media argue that players aiming for two pickup characters may be worse off depending on reset timing, while some claim the expected value has improved. The renewal is scheduled to go live after maintenance on July 29, 2026. The overseas Steam version has delayed update timing, so reviews appear to come from users concerned the same system will reach them later.
Aug 2
Koei Tecmo Games released BLUE REFLECTION Quartet: Shoujo-tachi no Kiseki on July 30, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. The Switch 2 version is download-only. The heroic RPG bundles four works from the BLUE REFLECTION series into a single package: the 2017 game BLUE REFLECTION: Higan ni Mau Shoujo no Ken, the anime BLUE REFLECTION RAY/澪, the app title BLUE REFLECTION SUN/燦, and the 2021 game BLUE REFLECTION TIE/帝. The standard edition costs 7,480 yen, with a Premium Box at 11,330 yen and a Special Collection Box at 24,200 yen. Each included work receives new features: the original game gets upgraded textures and faster field movement, the anime is re-edited with 3D-modeled main characters, SUN/燦 gains 24 newly written events, and TIE/帝 adds eight girls from RAY/澪 and SUN/燦 to battle. A REFERENCE database collects series lore. A launch trailer and a commemorative illustration by character designer Mel Kishida were also released.